Sheet delivering apparatus



Jan. 27, 1953 MARTlN 2,626,800

SHEET DELIVERING APPARATUS Filed July 20, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l IINVENTOR BY $04 Q. 7mm 26 32. 00M 6% ATTORNEY 7, 1 3 G. A. MARTIN2,626,800

SHEET DELIVERING APPARATUS Filed July 20, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 27, 1953 I UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET DELIVERINGAPPARATUS George A. Martin, Pearl River, N. Y., assignor to DexterFolder Company, Pearl River, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication July 20. 1948, Serial No. 39,764 8 Claims. (01. 271-68) Thisinvention relates to sheet handling apparatus, and more particularly tosheet delivering apparatus for delivering and piling sheets of tin plateand other metallic or relatively heavy sheets as the same are dischargedfrom a printing press, coating machine, bufling and cleaning machine,drying or baking oven, rolling mill, inspecting machine, trimmingmachine, and various other processing machines.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved sheet,delivery of novel, simple, and durable construction that will rapidlydeliverand evenly pile sheets of tin plate or other metallic materialwithout scratching their surfaces or otherwise injuring the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pile deliveryfor metal or other relatively heavy sheets wherein the successive sheetsare caused to move on a substantially horizontal plane until they arecompletely over piling position, whereupon said sheets will bodily fallfiatwise one on top of the other without relative sliding movement andform an even pile thereof, and each succeeding sheet will be preventedfrom dragging along the upper surface of a preceding delivered and piledsheet.

Another object is to provide an improved pile delivery for sheets of tinplate or the like magnetic material having novelly arranged rotarymagnetic and non-magnetic means for advancing the successive sheetsunder positive control and causing the same tomove on a substantiallyhorizontal plane into space over piling position.

Another obi ect is to provide novel rotary means for advancing andtransversely bowing sheets of tin plate or the like flexible'magneticmaterial through magnetic gripping action applied there- Another objectis to provide a pile delivery for sheets ofa magnetic character havingpile lowering mechanism and novel control means therefor so constructedand arranged that magnetic forces may be utilized in theoperatlon ofsaid means and control thereby of said pile lowering mecha- A furtherobject is to provide a pile delivery for sheets of magnetic materialhaving a pile supporting elevator which is mechanically lowered step bystep and controlled by novel magnetic means disposed in magnetic"relation to and under the influence of the pile of such sheets.

A still further object is to provide in a pile delivery for'metal orother relatively heavy sheets novel self-acting sheet Jogging means foraccurately aligning the successive she'etsas they arepile'd so as toform an'evenpile thereof."

Still another object is to provide in a pile delivery for metal or otherrelatively heavy sheets a novel sheet actuated sheet jogging devicewhich is actuated by each succeeding sheet in process of delivery toeil'ectively jog or align each preceding sheet delivered to and restingon the pile.

The above and further objects and novel features of the presentinvention will more fully appear from the following detail descriptionwhen the same is read in connection with the accompany'ing drawings. Itis to be expressly understood, however, thatthe drawings are for thepurpose of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition ofthe limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters refer to like partsthroughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a sheet deliveryembodying the present invention and including a pile elevator. said viewbeing taken on the line l--l of Fig. 2; r

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the sheet delivery shown in Fig. 1 lookingfrom the right thereof, certain of the parts having portions broken awayior purposes of clearer illustration;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing thedrive for the rotary sheet advancing means; I y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of magneticcontrol means for the pile elevator lowering mechanism, said means beingshown in the, position it occupies when lowering of the pile elevatorand pile of sheets thereon by said mechanism is effected;

Fig. 51s a top plan view, partly in section, of the magnetic controlmeans, shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of one of the frontsheet jogging devices shown in Figs. 1 and 2, certain of the partshaving portions broken away for. purposes of clearer illustration; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the side sheet joggingdevices shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown one form of sheet deliveryembodying the present invention which is particularly adapted fordelivering and piling sheets of tin plate as the same are received froma combined drying or baking oven and sheet turnover unit employed in theprocessing or making of metal articles or containers. It will beunderstood, however, that the sheet delivery disclosed herein may "beadvantageously and effectively employed in connection withother-machines for delivering and piling sheets of'tinplateor othermetal sheets of a magnetic or non-magnetic character; as well ascardboard or other relatively heavy non-metallic sheets as the same aredischarged from said machines.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sheets of tin plate pass insuccession from the baking oven and turnover unit with their treatedsurfaces uppermost onto a horizontally disposed endless conveyor IIIwhich advances said sheets away from said unit to a pile delivery II tobe hereinafter described wherein the sheets are piled one on top of theother in an orderly pile for further handling thereof. Conveyor Illcomprises a plurality of transversely spaced and parallel endless beltsI2 the rear ends of which pass around a suitable roller or rollers (notshown) located adjacent the discharge end of the sheet turnovermechanism. The front ends of belts l2 pass around a plurality of rollersI3 which are fixed in spaced relation on a transversely extending shaftI4. This shaft I4 is journalled at its opposite ends in suitablebearings provided in side plates I5 that are secured to the innersurfaces of two transversely spaced rear uprights I6 and projectforwardly therefrom. Uprights I6 form part of the pile delivery framewhich includes two transversely spaced similar front uprights I1, saiduprights being bolted to the machine foundation and connected togetherby side members I8 and I9. The front uprights II are connected togetherat the tops thereof by a stay shaft 20, and the rear uprights I6 areconnected together at the tops thereof by a stay shaft 2!, and atvertically spaced points below the belt roller shaft I4 by cross members22 and 23.

The belts I2 are continuously driven to advance the sheets of tin platein a continuously moving procession from the baking oven and turnoverunit to the pile delivery II, and said operation may be effected, asdesired, directly from said unit or from a separate source of power,such as, an electric motor carried by the pile delivery frame andconnected by suitable known means with the belt roller shaft I4.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, novel rotarymeans are provided adjacent the forward end of conveyor ID for furtheradvancing and progressively bowing and stiffening the successive sheetsof tin plate in a longitudinal direction through application of magneticforces applied to the lower surfaces of the sheets at spaced pointsacross the same, and for causing each sheet to move straight forward ona substantially horizontal plane into space until approximately theentire sheet is disposed over piling position. In this manner thesuccessive sheets are advanced under positive control to pilingposition, each succeeding sheet is made self-supporting and preventedfrom draggin along and marring the upper surface of a precedingdelivered and piled sheet, and upon reachingiling position thesuccessive sheets will bodily fall fiatwise one on top of the other inan accumulated pile thereof.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, said rotary sheet advancingand bowing means comprise a plurality of permanently magnetized rollers,there being an intermediate roller 24, and outer rollers 25, 25. Rollers24, 25 are adjustably secured on a shaft 26 in spaced relation and suchthat the north and south poles of the intermediate roller 24 arereversed with respect to the north and south poles of the outer rollers,25, 25 whereby the magnetic forces between the intermediate and theouter rollers are repelling instead of attracting in order to insuremagnetic sheet gripping eflect of said rollers. Shaft 25 which is madeof bronze, brass or other nonmagnetic material extends transversely ofthe pile delivery adjacent the belt roller shaft I4 and is J'ournalledat its opposite ends in suitable bearings provided in the side platesI5. The upper portions of the permanent magnet rollers 24, 25 lie insubstantially the same plane as the upper reaches of belts I2, and thediameter of said rollers is substantially the same as the diameter ofthe belt rollers I3 including said belts. It will be understood that thenumber and size of permanent magnet rollers may be varied as desired.

The permanent magnet rollers 24, 25 are of the general type disclosed inmy United States Patent No. 2,228,913, granted January 14, 1941, andeach of said rollers includes a hollow permanent magnet 21 (Fig. 2)loosely engaged over the nonmagnetic shaft 26 and having a north andsouth pole as indicated at N and S, respectively. Associated with andcontacting the opposite ends of permanent magnet 21 is a pair ofcircular shells 28 formed of soft iron or other suitable magnetizablematerial and having horizontal sheet engaging rims 29 which projecttoward each other and are spaced at their inner ends. Shells 28 aresecured to shaft 26 and clamp the permanent magnet 21 therebetween forrotation by said shaft as a unit, said shells, due to their engagementwith opposite ends of said magnet, also havin north and south poleswhich produce magnetic fluxes across the rims 29 and cause the sheets oftin plate to adhere thereto when moved into engagement therewith bybelts I2. The inner surfaces of rims 29 are bevelled to prevent contactof said rims with magnet 21 and thus insure proper distribution of themagnetic forces to shells 28.

Permanent magnet rollers 24, 25 are driven continuously and at a surfacespeed slightly faster than the surface speed of belts I2 so that thesuccessive sheets will be withdrawn more rapidly from said belts,thereby increasing the relative spacing between each leading sheet andthe next following sheet and providin more time for accurate pilingthereof as hereinafter described. For this purpose, the driven beltroller shaft I4 has fixed thereon adjacent one end thereof a spur gear30 (Fig. 3) which meshes with and drives an idler gear 3I that isjournalled on a stud 32 secured in any suitable manner in the adjacentside plate I5. Idler gear 3I meshes with a spur pinion 33 which issmaller than gear 30 and is fixed on and drives shaft 26. Permanentmagnet rollers 24, 25 are thus driven continuously by shaft I4 in thesame direction as belts I2 and at a faster surface speed than thesurface speed of said belts through gears 30, SI and pinion 33.

Disposed outwardly of the outer permanent magnet rollers 25, 25 andadjustably secured to shaft 25 for rotation therewith and adjustmenttherealong are two truncated cone-shaped rollers 34 (Fig. 2) which arenon-magnetic and of a size such that the inner smaller diameter thereofis substantially the same as the diameter of rollers 24, 25. It willthus appear that as each advancing sheet of tin plate leaves the beltsI2 and passes over the continuously rotating, transversely spacedrollers 24, 25, and 34, the opposite side edge portions of the sheetwill engage the coneshaped rollers 34 and the intermediate portion ofsaid sheet will be magnetically attracted and I drawn downwardly intoengagement with the permanent magnet rollers 24, 25, thus bowing upopposite sides of the sheet as indicated in broken lines at A in Fig. 2.Under these conditions and upon contin' 24, 2|, and 84,; each sheetmagnetically adhering to rollers 24, 2! is further advanced therebyunder positive control into space over piling position. progressivelybowed as it is advanced soz'thatthe extended or leading portion thereofisitiifened in alongitudinal direction; Iirr this manner the extendedorleading portion of each rotation of rollers advancing. sheet is madeself-supporting and prevented from bending or curvingdownwardly underits own weight "toward'the pile support, thereby providing for thesheets.

accurate ilatwise piiing of Cooperating in a novelmannerwith' the-permanent magnet rollers, 28 are'upper spring pressed pressure rollers 24 81 and 2) which are so located with respect to said magnet rollers thatthe axes thereof are not directly above and in the same vertical planeas the 'axis of the magnet rollersbut are somewhat rearward of saidlatter axis as clearly shown in Fig. 1. By virtue of the pressurerollers II and the described location thereof, the trailing portion ofeach advancing and stiffened sheet is engaged by said rollers at a pointrearwardly of the magnet rollers '24, 2!. In this manner the trailingportion of the advancing and stiifened sheet is helddown by pressurerollers II and said sheet is prevented. from swinging or pivoting bodilyabout the magnet rollers 24, 2 5 in a downward direction. thus causingthe sheet to move straight forward ona substantially horizontal plane asindicated in broken lines .at B in Fig; l which further provides foraccurate .fiatwise Piling of thesheets without scratching .or marrlng,the surfaces fthereof Pressure rollers 35 also aid in effectivelybowing the sheets through engagement'of the same with said sheets at theouter magnet rollers 28, 2| and adjacent the cone-shaped rollers 84.

. As herein shown, the pressure rollers .88 are of the rubber tire typeto prevent scratching or markingof the sheets, and are Journalled at thefree ends of forwardly extending bifurcated arms 36 which are. looselymounted on a shaft 21.

Arms II are yieldingly urged downwardly byadlustable compression springsas which are disposed between the furcations' of said arms and otherarms I! associated therewith and'adiust-- ably secured to shaft 81 formovement there'- along with arms to various positions. Arms 30 areprovided on the lower surfaces thereof with forwardly and downwardlyinclined thin webs 4| which guide the leading edge of eachverticaily'extending bars 42 by bolts 48 which pass through suitableopenings in said armsand are threaded into-suitable threaded openings inthe upper ends of said am; Bars 42 are secured at their lower endstothecross member '22.

By loosening bolts 42. 4|, shaft I'harr'ns it and same pressure rollerstl may be'r'oekedj forwardly and rearwardly as a unitabout said bolts tolocate said pressure rollers inthe proper rearwardposition withrespectto the magnet rollers 24, II.

w en tneftraumg' portion crease a vancedjby the magnet rollers 24, 2!moves out of engagementwith the pressure rollers 2!,

sheet begins to swing downwardly, said trailing portion of the sheet,howeven'stiil being under the magnetic influence of the magnet rollerswill 1 continue to adhere to said rollers and, hence, the sheet willsimultaneously be moved forwardly and downwardly at the trailing edgethereof around a portion of the periphery of the magnet rollers, thusmaintaining the sheet substantially horizontal; as shown in broken-linesat C in Fig; 1, and removing the trailing portion thereof from the-pathof the next or oncoming sheet to prevent interference therewith. Whenthe delivered downwardly moving sheet reaches a position substantiallycoplanar with the axis'of rotatiorr'ofthe magnet rollers 24, 28, saidsheet. is stripped from said rollers by strippers herein- 1 afterreferred to, whereupon it falls iiatwise by gravity a'reIatively shortdistance onto a piling platform or'skid 44 upon which the successivesllileets are piled one upon the other in an orderly p I As shown inFigs. 1 and 2, the platform or skid 44 is removably' supported on a pileelevator which is preferably but not necessarily of the general typedisclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,218,401, granted October 15,1940. This elevator includes a U-shaped frame or support 45 whichcarries the platform 44 and which is open at thejfront thereof toreceive a portable truck for unloading of said platform and the pile ofsheets thereon from said elevator through the front" of the delivery.I"or amore detaileddescription of the construction of the U-shapedsupport .4! reference may be had to my abovementioned, Patent No.2,218,401.

Disposed slightly forward of the rollers 24, 25 and supported on thecross member 22, 23 of the delivery frame by means of forwardlyextending bars 4| is a metal plate or apron 41 provided on the 'frontsurface thereof with two transversely spaced, vertically extending pileguides 44 against whichthe-successlvely delivered sheets are lo g d ashereinafter described, and against which the rear side of the pile ofdelivered sheets bears during lowering of said pile and the elevator bymechanism to be presently described. Secured to the upper end of apron41 and serving as a continuation of the pile guides .40 are strippers nwhich are made of brass or other non-magnetic material and have portionsextending upwardly and rearwardly at an angle tangent with the peripheryof the magnet rollers 24, 2| and to. a point substantially in line withthe axis of engage in. the teeth of sheaves I i that are fixed on androtated. by shafts I2 at opposite sides of the delivery frame. Theseshafts I2 are journalled in suitable hearings in brackets II and 44which are secured to the uprights It and I], respectivelyr l'ixed onshafts l2 adjacent brackets It right and left handworm gears whichmeshwith right and left hand worms II that are fixed on a shaft l'lextending transversely of'the deliveryframeand iournalied insuitable-bearings in theba'ackets l3." I

Shaft 81 is intermittently rotated in the prope direction'to impart stepby step downward move-. merit to thesupport 4| and pile of deliveredsheets thereon, and this intermittent rotation .of shaft "ispreferabbeflected"bylpawl and ram mechanism of the general typedisclosed in the United States Patent No. 2,230,633, granted February 4,1941, to Leo C. Williams. This pawl and ratchet mechanism includes apawl carrier 58 loosely mounted on shaft 51 and which has a pawl 59pivoted thereon and adapted, under certain conditions, to engage aratchet 69 that is fixed on said shaft. Pivotally connected with pawlcarrier 58 is one end of a link 6| the opposite end of which ispivotally connected with a crank pin 62 secured in an idler spur gear 63which meshes with and is continuously driven by a smaller spur gear 64that is fixed on the opposite end of the driven belt roller shaft 14.Idler spur gear 63 is journalled on a stud 65 which is secured in theadjacent rear upright Hi. It will thus appear that through oscillationof pawl carrier 58 by the described driving connections therefor withgear 63, and through engagement of the oscillating pawl 59 with ratchet60, the shaft 51 and worms 56 thereon will be intermittently rotated aspointed out above. Under these conditions worm gears 55, shafts 52 andsheaves I at opposite sides of the delivery will likewise be rotatedinwardly toward each other, thus lowering chains 50 and the support 45and pile of sheets thereon.

In order to maintain the top of the pile of delivered sheets at aselected minimum distance below the magnet rollers 24 and 25, theelevator and its operating mechanism are, in accordance with anotheraspect of the present invention, magnetically controlled by magneticmeans preferably constructed, mounted, and operated as follows.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the rear surface of apron 41 isa bracket 66 (Figs. 1, 2, and 4) which has pivotally mounted thereon at61 an arm 68 that extends upwardly from said bracket along and in closeproximity to said apron. Arm 68 is formed of brass, bronze or othernon-magnetic material. Secured to the front side of arm 68 adjacent theupper end thereof is a vertically extending permanent magnet 69 which isU- shaped in top plan view or horizontal cross section (Fig. 4), therebyforming north and south poles, indicated at N and S, respectively. whichare transversely spaced with respect to the vertical movement of thepile of sheets and are of an appreciable length in a vertical direction.Magnet 69 is exposed to the sheets of tin plate delivered to and piledon support 45 through a suitable opening I6 provided in apron 41, andsaid magnet is so positioned on arm 68 that the lower end thereof islocated substantially at the desired normal level of the top of the pileof sheets on support 45. It will be noted that by virtue of thevertically disposed magnet 69 with transversely spaced poles themagnetic circuit through said poles flows in a horizontal plane andsubstantially parallel with the surface of the piled sheets, thusproviding for a more accurate and sensitive control of the elevatoroperating mechanism.

Pivotally connected to the upper end of arm 68 is the front end of arearwardly extending connecting rod II (Figs. 1 and 4) the rear end ofwhich is pivotally connected to the free end of a vertically extendingarm I2. This arm 12 is secured to the inner end of a short cross shaft13 which is journalled adjacent its opposite ends in suitable hearingsin brackets 14 secured to the cross member 22 of the delivery frame(Figs. 1 and 2). Secured to shaft I3 at its outer end is a rearwardlyextending arm 15 to the free end of which is pivotally connected thelower end of a vertically extending connecting rod 16. The upper end ofrod 16 is pivotally connected to the rear end of a forwardly extendinglatch 11 which is pivoted as at 19 on a bracket 19 secured to anddepending from the stay shaft 2|. The front end of latch 11 projectsover a pawl mask which is loosely mounted on shaft 51 adjacent ratchet60 and is yieldably connected with the pawl carrier 58. Pawl 59 extendsacross ratchet 60 and normally rests on pawl mask 80 out of engagementwith said ratchet. A light extension spring 8I having one end connectedto arm 15 and the opposite end connected to cross member 22 is providedto yieldingly urge said arm downwardly, whereby latch I1 is normallyheld out of engagement with pawl mask 80 and magnet 69 is normally helda short distance away from the ear vertical projection of the pile ofdelivered sheets on support 45, as shown in Fig. 1. An adjustable stop82 secured in cross member 22 and engaged by arm 15 limits the downwardmovement of said arm and provides for proper setting of latch 11 andmagnet 69 in their normal inoperative positions, as described.

At the beginning of the operation, the pile support 45 and emptyplatform 44 thereon are rapidly raised by suitable mechanism (not shown)connected with worm shaft 51 until the upper surface of said platform isslightly below the lower end of magnet 69. Prior to this raising ofsupport 45 and platform 44, the pawl mask 80 is shifted to the left, asviewed in Fig. 2, by a fork 83 so that a bevelled annular flange on saidmask will lift the pawl 59 out of engagement with ratchet 60 if saidpawl is not already disengaged therefrom. Fork 83 is engaged in anannular groove in pawl mask 80 and is fixed on a transversely extendingshift rod 84 which is slidably mounted in suitable openings in thebrackets 53 and is operated in any suitable manner.

When the support 45 has been initially positioned as above described,and with no sheets of tin plate on platform 44, the magnetic circuitthrough the laterally spaced vertical legs of magnet 69 will flowthrough the air. Under these conditions, magnet 69 will remain in theposition shown in Fig. l, and latch 11 will be held up above the path ofmovement of mask 86 so that the latter, pawl carrier 58 and pawl 59 willoscillate idly and no downward movement will be imparted to the support45. As the sheets of tin plate drop one after another onto platform 44and the pile thus formed progressively increases until the top thereofis adjacent the upper end of magnet 69, said magnet, because of thepresence of this pile of magnetic material, is magnetically attractedand swung about its pivot 61 toward said pile of tin plate sheets, asshown in Fig. 4. Thereupon, latch 11, through the described connectionstherefor with magnet 69, is swung downwardly into engagement with pawlmask 80 to stop rotation of the same and enable pawl 59 to engage anddrive ratchet 60 and shaft 51 to lower the support 45 and the pile oftin plate sheets thereon through continued oscillation of pawl carrier58. Lowering of the support 45 and pile of tin plate sheets thereoncontinues until the top of said pile has reached a point adjacent thelower end of magnet 69 at which time the magnetic circuit will againflow through the air and said magnet will no longer be under themagnetic influence of the pile of tin plate sheets. Springs 8| then actsto return magnet 69 to its original inoperative position, whereuponlatch 11 is raised out of engagement with pawl mask 80. The pawl carrier58, pawl 59 and mask 80 will then oscillate idly until it is againnecessary to lower the support 45- and pile of sheets thereon; whereuponT the above =described operations 'of'. the pawl and I ratchet'controlmeans arerepeated. adjust-'3 able stop 85 carried by magnet. arm 68and'engageable with apron 41 limits the movement of' magnet 69 towardthepile of'sheetsand prevents direct contact of *said magnet with saidpile in operative position. a

Inaccordance'with another aspect of themvention, sheet jogging devicesof novel construe generally at 86, 86 are employed atthe front of thedelivery,'and a single sheet Jogging device indicated generally at 81is-employed at each side of said delivery. The front sheet Jogging.

devices 86, 86 are identical in construction, mounting and operation,and the side sheet jogging devices 81, 81 are identical in-construction,mounting and operation, therefore, 'a description In the. illustratedembodiment two sheet Jogging devices indicated of one' of said frontjogging devices and of one of said side jogging devices will suflice.for both of the same.

- As' herein shown; the front sheet jogging devices 86, are supported onan auxiliaryframe' comprising side members 88 and a front'cross member89. This cross member 89 is secured tobrackets 99 'slidably mounted onthe side 'mem-' bers 88. The cross member 89 and sheet jogging devices86, 86 carried thereby and hereinafter described in detail are thereforeadjustable rearwardly and forwardly along the side members 88 and may besecured in any desired position of adjustment thereon by thumb screws 9|or the like. The auxiliary frame is pivotally mounted at the rearthereof, as indicated at 92, on hangars 93 secured to and depending froma shaft 94 whichextends transversely of the delivery frame and issecured at its opposite ends to the side.

members I8, I9 of said delivery frame. The auxiliary frame is supportedat the front thereof by laterally projecting pins 95 secured. in thefront uprights II. It will be noted that the pivotal mounting of theauxiliary frame enables said frame and the sheet jogging devices 86, 86carriedthereby to yield upwardly in the event the elevator isaccidentally raised too high, thus preventing damage to said sheetjogging devices through engagement of the pile supporting platform'44therewith.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6 of the drawings,

' each front sheet jogging device 86 comprises a pair of spacedvertically extending arms 96 which are loosely mounted for pivotalmovement on the cross member 89 of the auxiliary frame and connectedtogether at their lower extremities by a block 91 welded or otherwisesuitably secured thereto. Arms 96 are adjustable along cross member 89and may be secured in any desired.

position of. adjustment thereon by a thumb screw 98- which is threadedinto a collar 99 engaged over said cross member and disposed betweensaid arms. Collar 99 is provided with two angularly related pins I99 andIN which are adapted to be engaged by a cross pin I92 secured in andextending between the arms 96. Pin I99 is utilized to limit the swingingmovement of the sheet Jogging device in a rearward or clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 1, and pin I9I is utilized to support saidsheet jogging device when the latter is swung forwardly and upwardly outof operative position to permit unloading of the pile of deliveredsheets fromthe. elevator through I the front of the delivery.

Pivotally mountedon apin I93secured in and extending, between .theearms96 adjacent the iowerends thereof isa vertically extending plate I94provided on' the;,-front side thereof with a bearingblock I95 toreceivejthepivotpin I99, said block being located below the center ofsaid.

plate so that the latter is overbalanced and will tend to swingdownwardly by gravity relative to' rear side of plate I94 and around theupper and lower ends of said plate is a thin metallic band I96 formed ofa suitable wear resisting resilient material such as, spring steel, anddisposed between said band and, said plateis acushion pad I91 ofasuitable material, such as, for example,

sponge rubber; Pad. I91 extends the full length-- of plate I94 and saidpad and band I96 are secured to said; plate by machine screws I98. Theportion of plate I94 disposed above bearing block I95 is slightly offsetrearwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, so that pad I9! is spaced fromsaid plate for a major portion of thelength thereof,

thus enabling said pad to also yield bodily-relative to plate I94 andthereby increasethe effective cushioning action thereof. Arms 96 arefurther weighted by a weight I99 which is adjustably secured to aforwardly projecting pin II9 that is, in turn, secured in the tie block91.

In the initial operation of the pile delivery, the described. sheetjogging devices 86, 86 are moved along the side members 88 and crossmember 89 to positions approximate the length and width of the sheetwhen the same is resting on the platform 44 and engaged with the rearpile uides 48. A few sheets are then delivered to the platform 44 andevenly piled thereon by manually moving the same rearwardly intoengagement with the pile guides 48 and laterally Under these conditions,the upper end portions of theinclined plate, cushion pad and band unitsI94, I91, I96 will be spaced from the magnet rollers a distance equal tothe length of the sheet. the lower end portions of said units at thepoint of contact with the pile will be spaced from the rear pile guides48 a distance equal to the length of the sheet, and the arms 96 intending to return to their natural vertical positions by gravity and theaction of the weights I99 will press said units against the pile andhold the same in their intended inclined poistions. The pressure of theplate, cushion pad and band units I94, I91, I96 may be increased asdesired by movingthe weights I99 forwardly along pins II9.

Accordingly, as each sheet is moved forwardly and downwardly by magnetrollers 24, 26 as hereinbefore described, the front edge of saidsheetcontacts the bands I96, thus checking the sheet against anyfurtherforward movement, said bands yielding under this impact andthereby preventing damage to said edge. As the sheet is stripped fromthe magnet rollers 24, 29 and drops flatwise toward the pile, it movesin a forwardly and downwardly inclined direction along the inclinedstripper 49 and band I and along the pile guides 48 onto the pile and toa final position thereon withthe rear edge thereof engaged with the pileguides 48 and the front edge in line with the front edges of thepreviously delivered an p l Sheets- Thus each sheet is deposited on thepile without sliding forwardly or rearwardly relative to the previouslydelivered underlying sheet, and an even piling of the sheets isautomatically obtained. It will be noted that each forwardly anddownwardly moving sheet, upon initial contact thereof with the bandsI06, tends to swing the plate, cushion pad and band units I04, I01, I06in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, thus causing the lowerend portions of said units to tap or impart a rearward thrust to thepreceding delivered topmost sheet or sheets on the pile, wherebyengagement of the same with the pile guides 48 and even piling thereofis further assured.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, and 7, each of the side sheet Joggingdevices 91 comprises a thin metallic plate III formed to provide avertically extending pile engaging portion I I2, an outwardly ofisetvertically extending attaching portion H3. and a downwardly and inwardlyinclined portion I I4 connecting the portions H2 and H3. Plate III issuitably secured by the attaching portion II3 thereof to twolongitudinally spaced vertically extending bars I I5 which are supportedand guided at their upper ends for floating movement in vertical andhorizontal directions in suitable enlarged openings II 6 formed in abracket II1. This bracket II! is slidably mounted on shaft 94 and on asimilar shaft II9 which extends transversely of the delivery in spacedparallel relation with shaft 94 and is secured at its opposite ends tothe side members I8, I9 of the delivery frame.

Bracket III may be of any suitable construction and as herein shown isformed of two outer plates II9 and I20, a centrally disposed innerspacer block I2I, and two end spacer blocks I22, said plates and blocksbeing bolted together as a unit, and said spacer blocks forming betweenthem the openings IIB. Plates II9, I20 and end blocks I22 are providedwith suitable axially aligned openings to receive shafts 94 and H9.Downward movement of bars H5 relative to bracket H1 is limited by shortpins I23 which are suitably secured in the upper ends of said bars andnormally engage the upper side of said bracket to properly position theplate III vertically so that the portion I I2 thereof extends a shortdistance below the normal level of the top of the pile of sheets onsupport 49. The portion I I2 of plate I II extends substantially to thesame level as the axis of rotation of magnet rollers 24, 29, at whichlevel is located the inclined connecting portion I I 4 of said plate.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the plate H9 of bracket II! atopposite ends thereof and depending from said plate are two narrowplates I24 which are provided adjacent their lower ends with suitableopening to slidably receive therein short rods I 25. These rods I29 areformed at their outer ends with enlarged heads I20 and are externallythreaded at their inner ends to receive adjusting and lock nuts I21 andI29, respectively. Surrounding rods 12! between plates 12 I24 and ajusting nuts 121 are compression coil springs 29 for yieldingly urgingsaid rods axially inwardly toward the center of the delivery.

Secured in the heads I20 ofrods I25 and extending longitudinally acrossthe outer sides of bars H5 is a rod I30 having Journalled thereon twoanti-friction needle bearings I3I which are held in engagement with saidbar by the action of springs I29. It will thus appear that the floatingmounting of bars I I9 and the anti-friction bearings I3I enables saidbars to freely yield upwardly in the event the elevator is accidentallyraised too high, thus preventing damage to the sheet jogging device 01through engagement of the pile supporting platform 44 with the plate IIIof said device. It will also appear that the floating mounting of barsH5 enables pivoting or canting of said bars relative to bracket II1under the action of springs I29.

Journalled in suitable bearings in the side members I9, I9 of thedelivery frame and extending inwardly and outwardly of said side membersare externally threaded shafts I32 which are threadedly engaged insuitable threaded openings provided in the plates II9, I20 and spacerblocks I2I of the brackets II1 of the sheet jogging devices 81, 81.Shafts I32 have their inner ends reduced and Journalled in suitablebearings in plates I33 secured to the shafts 94, H9, and the outer endsof shafts I32 have fixed thereon handwheels I34. Axial movement ofshafts I32 is prevented in one direction by plates I33 and in theopposite direction by collars I35 fixed on said shafts adjacent theinner sides of the side members I8, I9.

In operation, the side sheet jogging devices 81, 81 are adjustedinwardly toward each other by rotating the handwheels I34 and threadedshafts I 32 in the proper direction until the portions II2 of plates IIIengage opposite sides of the pile of tin plate sheets on platform 44 andsprings I29 are somewhat compressed. Under these conditions, the plateportions II2 will engage the uppermost sheets of the pile under ayielding pressure. and will be spaced apart a distance equal to thewidth of the sheets being handled. The pressure of the plate portions II 2 on the pile may be varied, as desired, by adjusting the tension ofsprings I29 by means of the adjusting nuts I21. In order to hold theplates III against outward yielding movement relative to bars I I 5adjustable stops I39 are provided in the lower end of said bars, saidstops being also utilized to adjust the portions I I2 of said plates sothat they are parallel with the vertical projection of the pile.

As each stiffened sheet of tin plate is advanced by magnet rollers 24,25 in a horizontal plane over piling position, as hereinbeforedescribed, said sheet passes between th attaching portions II3 of theplates III. When the advanced sheet is moved downwardly by magnetrollers 24, 25 and is stripped from said rollers by strippers 49, saidsheet falls flatwise toward the pile between the portions II2 of platesII I and, hence, drop onto the pile without sliding relative to the nextpreceding or underlying sheet on the pile and into position such thatthe side edges thereof are in accurate alignment with the side edges ofthe previously delivered and piled sheets.

The magnetic control means for the pile elevator operating mechanismdisclosed herein is not claimed in the present application for thereason that it forms the subject matter of a divisional applicationSerial No. 278,444, filed March 25, 1952. The sheet 'jogging devices arenotclaimed; inthe present application for the reason that they also formthe subject ,r'natterl a While the present invention is herein illus.-

tratedarid described in connection with the,.de.-,

livering and piling of sheets of tin .plate as; the,

same are discharged from a! combined drying oven and sheetturnover-unitgit is equally adapt,-

ed for the delivering and piling oftin plate, as I well as, otherrelatively stiif sheetsoi a magnetic character as the same aredischarged fromvar-i'e 1 ous other instrumentalities acting on suchsheets:

Additionally, by merely substituting one of many.)

known' mechanical pile elevator control me'cha-f' nisms forthe magneticcontrol means herein illustrated and described, the present invention, 2

without further modifications, may also be employed for the deliveringand piling of metal sheets of a non-magnetic character, as well as,cardboard and other sheets of similar relatively stiif non-metallicmaterial.

Further, various changes may be made in the design and arrangement ofthe parts of the illustrated embodiment without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as will now be clear to those skilledin the art. It is therefore to be expressly understood that the presentinvention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof hereinillustrated and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sheet delivery, a.pile support, driven rotatable magnetic meansdisposed above said support at one side thereof for receiving andconveying sheets of magnetic material in suc-' cession forwardly oversaid support and then downwardly toward said support through applicationof magnetic forces applied first to the underside of said sheets andthen to the trailing edges of said sheets, and stripper meansforstripping the successive sheets from said magnetic means duringdownward movement thereof. said stripping means being effective to stripthe downwardly moving sheets from the magnetic means when the trailingedges of said sheets reach a position substantially coplanar with theaxis of rotation of said magnetic means.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a sheet support, drivenrotatable magnetic means disposed at one side of said support forreceiving and advancing sheets of magnetic material in succession tosaid support through magnetic gripping action on the underside thereof,and means cooperating with said magnetic means and acting only on theunderside of the sheets for causing the opposite side edge portions ofeach sheet to curve upwardly when said sheet is magnetically attractedto and gripped by said magnetic means. I

3. In a sheet delivery, a sheet support, driven rotatable magnetic meansdisposed at one side of said support for receiving and advancing sheetsof magnetic material one after another to said support through magneticgripping action on the underside thereof, and rotatable non-magneticmeans associated with said magnetic means and acting only on theunderside of the sheets for holding the opposite side edge portions ofthe successive sheets above the plane of said magneticmeans.

whereby said sheets are caused to bow transversely when magneticallyattracted to' and r pp d by said magnetic means.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a

magnet rollers .arrangedat oneside of said sup-.

port for receiving and advancing sheetsof'mag netiemmaterial tinsuccession,- to said support'j' through. magneticgripping action on -theunderside thereof, andother;non-magnetic'rollers arranged coaxially with.said ,magnet rollers, outwardly of attracted to and gripped bysaidmagnet rollers.

5..In a sheetdelivery, a-pile support, driven shaft-idisposed above saidsupport at one side thereof, a plurality of permanentmagnet, rollersflxedon and rotated by said shaft for receiving and advancingv sheets ofmagnetic material one after another to said support through magneticgripping action on the underside thereof, and

truncated cone-shaped rollers of non-magnetic material fixed on saidshaft outwardly of said magnet rollers for holding the opposite sideedge portions of the successive sheets above the plane of the magnetrollers, whereby said sheets are transversely bowed when magneticallyattracted to and gripped by said magnet rollers to stiffen the-same in alongitudinal direction.

6. In apparatus of thecharacter described, a pile support, drivenrotatable magnetic means disposed above said support at one side thereoffor receiving and conveying sheets of magnetic material in successionforwardly over said support and then downwardly toward said supportthrough application of magnetic forces applied first to the underside ofsaid sheets and then to the trailing edges of said sheets, means whollydisposed beneath the sheets and cooperating with said magnetic means fortransversely bowing the successive sheets to stiffen the same in alongitudinal direction during forward movement thereof, and strippermeans for stripping the successive sheets from said magnetic meansduring downward movement thereof, said stripper means being effective tostrip the downwardly moving sheets from the magnetic means when thetrailing edges of said sheets reach a position substantially coplanarwith the axis of rotation of said magnetic means.

'7. In apparatus of the character described, a horizontally disposedpile support, driven rotatable means disposed above said support at oneside thereof for receiving and advancing sheets one after another intospace over said support, said means comprising axially spaced lower feedrollers and cooperating axially spaced upper pressure rollers normallydisposed with their axes rearwardly of the axes of said feed rollers,means mounting said pressure rollers for movement forwardly andrearwardly to various selected positions with respect to said feedrollers, and means cooperating-with said rotatable means fortransversely bowing the successive sheets to stiffen the same (from thefront rearwardly as they are advance I 8. In a sheet delivery, ahorizontally disposed.

shcet support, a plurality of driven permanent 7s ers for transverselybowing the successive sheets to stiflen the same from the frontrearwardly as they are moved forwardly by said magnet rollers and forholding each advancing and stiffened sheet against pivotal downwardmovement about the peripheral surfaces of said magnet rollers, saidmeans comprising non-magnetic truncated cone-shaped sheet-bowing rollersarranged coaxially with said magnet rollers outwardly of the latter anda plurality of upper spring-pressed non-magnetic sheet-holding rollersnormally engaged with said magnet rollers and disposed with their axesrearwardly of the axes of said magnet rollers, and stripper means forstripping the successive sheets from said magnet rollers during downwardmovement thereof toward said support, said stripper means beingeffective to strip the downwardly moving sheets from the magnet rollerswhen the trailing edges of said sheets reach a position substantiallycoplanar with the axis of rotation of said magnet rollers.

GEORGE A. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENT Name Date Kneeland Nov. 27, 1877 Smith etal. July 10, 1883 Reifl'el Mar. 15, 1892 Neckerman Mar. 3, 1925 Evans etal. Oct. 2, 1928 Bing May 14, 1929 Mudd Oct. 5, 1937 Buccicone et al.May 9, 1939 Hormal June 20, 1939 Turner Oct. 30, 1945 Liefier Jan. 22,1946 Case Aug. 27, 1945

